We Will Get Divorced: The Perfect Divorce Plan of the Sacrificial Daughter and the Cold-Blooded Soldier - Chapter 20

The carriage departed from the governor’s mansion one week later, on a morning after that.

There were three of us boarding: Julian, Zach, and me.

“It took quite some time to depart, didn’t it, my lord?”

Julian sat with his arms crossed, looking displeased on the swaying carriage seat. For the Undying King, known for his swift decisions, this initial delay felt unnaturally slow.

“I sent a letter to Nadine right after that incident, requesting a meeting. But she hasn’t sent any reply until this very moment. At this point, I’ll just go directly and confront her.”

“Oh, she must be very busy. Your sister.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s clearly a deliberate annoyance.”

Julian replied without hiding his exasperation. His face, biting his lower lip like a sulking child, looked somewhat adorable, brimming with stubbornness.

“Calling it an annoyance… Aren’t you siblings?”

“There’s no creature more prone to discord than noble siblings. Isn’t that true for the Eirondale family as well?”

Instantly, Lydia’s beautiful yet spiteful smile flashed through my mind.

“That’s certainly true. But in our case, we’re half-siblings.”

“Same here. My sister and brother have a different mother from me. I’m the child of a concubine.”

“Is that so?”

“We have a lot in common.”

“Huh?”

“You and I, Sierra. Surprisingly, we have a lot in common.”

Saying this, Julian counted on his long fingers.

“First, we don’t get along with our siblings. Second, we have different mothers from them. Third, our fathers are worthless. Fourth, we hate wasteful spending. And then…”

“Liking olive oil?”

“Add that to the list.”

Folding his pinky finger last, Julian slightly lifted the corner of his mouth.

He must be smiling. It was a smile like a little bird peeking out from its nest—small but charming, the kind that makes you involuntarily smile back when you see it.

“…Yes, that’s right.”

I pretended not to notice that smile and nodded, keeping my eyes fixed on my own lap.

As if to suppress my unwittingly leaping heart, as if to pluck out the stubborn buds of expectation trying to sprout.

The carriage headed straight east along the highway, stopping overnight in the village of Ruhen.

Then, it reached the Burfrock River, which separates the Eirondale and Vraogone territories, and continued south along its flow.

“Aren’t we entering Vraogone territory?”

“No. We’ll continue south through the neutral zone.”

In the Vishka Kingdom, riverbanks are designated as neutral zones, belonging to no one. I had heard that Empress Nadine, despite being a woman, was appointed as the governor of a region in Vraogone, so I had assumed we would cross the neutral zone and meet in Vraogone territory.

“If we enter Vraogone, my father will find out about our movements. I wrote in my letter to Nadine that we should meet in the neutral zone. She loves picnics and always goes out to the Burfrock riverbank at the beginning of the month. If we blend in there, we shouldn’t stand out.”

“I see.”

Crossing the border would mean passing through a checkpoint. It was unlikely the Vraogone guards would overlook the Undying King’s face. With Julian having hostages in Chrislan, a secret meeting in the neutral zone was absolutely necessary.

“But Lady Nadine didn’t reply, right?”

“Silence is customarily taken as consent.”

I’d never heard of such a custom. Thinking this, I looked down from the carriage window at the Burfrock River, abundant with water.

It was an impressive river. A majestic flow carrying meltwater from the Northern Mountains. Both banks were densely covered with tall reeds as far as the eye could see. It was like an endless green desert…

Will we really be able to meet her? Suddenly, anxiety welled up.

Of course, even though it’s called a riverbank, both sides of the river from upstream to downstream are all riverbanks. Even if we knew the date she would be out, could we really find just one woman in such a vast area?

To begin with, the neutral zone riverbanks were crowded with people from nearby areas doing as they pleased. Some were enjoying picnics, others fishing in the river, and some cutting reeds to sell. From afar, I could hear lively sounds of flutes, drums, and fireworks. It seemed a festival was even being held. How could we possibly find Nadine in a place like this?

“I found her.”

It seemed he had found her. You’re kidding, how good are your eyes, my lord?

“That’s her.”

Julian pointed roughly toward where the festival music was coming from. A bit downstream on the riverbank… no, wait. Not the riverbank—it was on the river itself. The festival music was coming from the river.

“What is that?”

Gradually, the full picture came into view. Numerous small boats were floating on the river. They were connected by bridges, allowing movement between them, clustered together as if forming an artificial island.

Stalls were set up on the boats, with several banners planted. Another firework shot up. Cheers exploded from the boats.

The festival was being held on boats floating on the river.

“Amazing, I’ve never seen a boat festival before.”

Pressing myself against the carriage window, I spoke.

“I’d imagine. I haven’t seen one anywhere else either.”

“Is Lady Nadine participating in that festival?”

“No, she’s not participating.”

What…?

“She’s hosting it.”

What?!

“Also, that’s not a festival. It’s a picnic.”

What?!

“A picnic? That?”

A picnic where you bring a lunchbox, take a little walk, have tea, and such? That?

“She’s such a showy sister, it’s annoying.”

Is it really okay to sum it up with just that remark?

It seemed true that Julian and Nadine weren’t blood-related. No matter how you squeezed the Undying King, who valued simplicity and fortitude, you’d never get that kind of idea.

Carrying my strange sense of understanding, the carriage advanced toward the center of the festival music.